The spiritual traditions of the Eastern Orthodox Church are all but unknown to most Christians in the West, who often think of Christianity as split into two camps: Bible-based Protestantism and sacramental Catholicism. Yet in The Mountain of Silence, sociologist Kyriacos Markides suggests that Orthodox spirituality offers rich resources for Western Christians to integrate the head and the heart, and to regain a more expansive view of Christian life. The book combines elements of memoir, travelogue, and history in a single story. Markides journeys to a cluster of monasteries on Mount Athos, an isolated peninsula in northern Greece and one of the holiest sites in the Orthodox tradition. He also visits the troubled island of Cyprus, largely occupied by Turkey since 1974, and makes the acquaintance of a monk named Father Maximos, who has established churches, convents, and monasteries. Markides, a native Cypriot, tells the tale of this journey in a tone that's loose and light, with many excursions on Church history and Greek and Turkish politics. But despite the easygoing tone, the importance of this book is potentially immense. The Mountain of Silence introduces a world that is entirely new to many Western readers, and unveils a Christian tradition that reveres the mystical approach to God as much as the rational, a tradition that Markides says "may have the potential to inject Christianity with the new vitality that it so desperately needs." --Michael Joseph GrossAn acclaimed expert in Christian mysticism travels to a monastery high in the Trodos Mountains of Cyprus and offers a fascinating look at the Greek Orthodox approach to spirituality that will appeal to readers of Carlos Castaneda.In an engaging combination of dialogues, reflections, conversations, history, and travel information, Kyriacos C. Markides continues the exploration of a spiritual tradition and practice little known in the West he began in Riding with the Lion. His earlier book took readers to the

The Mountain of Silence: A Search for Orthodox Spirituality Essay

There is a little and compact genre of Western Christians and/or sceptics researching Eastern Christian spiritualty of which this is a portion. The strengths of Markides ' work is his personal connexion to Cyprus and his willingness to manage fewer topics, but to dig profoundly into them. If he had tried to compose an apology for the full Eastern Christian religious tradition or even merely that of Mt. Athos, he would surely hold failed ; nevertheless, because this was focused on the microcosm of one monastery under a individual archimandrite who spent important clip on the large subjects justness was given to the broader tradition represented. This was an interesting book. There are a few subdivisions that truly got me believing. The subdivision on the logismoi - invasive ideas that can assail our heads - was really interesting. My biggest ailment is that the chapters were excessively long! It was difficult for me to maintain reading it, because I do n't wish halting mid-chapter! Absolutely unbelievable. A really balanced presentation of monasticism as practiced in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The author, a sociologist instruction at the University of Maine explores the patterns and underlying mysticism feature of Eastern Christianity, exemplifying the similarity to Eastern mysticism as practiced throughout Asia, while contrasting it with the rational attack of Western Christianity. The writer is enchanted, mesmerized, enraptured by his pilgrim's journey to Mount Athos. Hey everybody, love Mount Athos, pleaaase! In this book, he aims at researching what Mount Athos, peace be upon him, has to offer the Western World, yes we here in the West who operate out of our encephalons, today that is non available within mainstream churches, that is, non-Orthodox churches. Yep! You need that mystical bombilation! I was anticipating this book to be approximately Mount Athos ( the independent, cloistered democracy that could be considered the bosom of Orthodox Christianity ) . It 's not—at least non straight. Quite perchance, one of my top 5 favourite books. A fantastic and accessible debut to Orthodox spiritualty, as related to the writer by Father Maximos, an Athonite monastic life in Cyprus. Athonite spiritualty presents a image of the Christian life as one oriented towards a Fuller brotherhood with Christ and a living experience of God. Western Christianity and modernness as a whole are frequently used as foils ; for the Orthodox, westerners have gone amiss by seeking to near God and truth entirely through the usage of ground, while burying that their existent intent is to accomplish in their ain Black Marias the Fuller similitude of God through a direct Communion with him that goes beyond the strictly rational. Truly, truly enjoyed this book. Made me look at the religion otherwise. On top of the astonishing narratives and wisdom, the remark that a true Christianity would unite Western Christianity ( ground, critical, theology-oriented ) with Eastern Christianity ( brooding, mysterious, experiential ) truly struck place to me. I hope to pattern more of the brooding side 11 out of 5 This was a absorbing debut to the ancient hesychastic tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church. A good expression at the mysterious nature of Orthodoxy. Yeah. Mount Athos ( The Mountain of Silence ) is a distant island in Greece. It is an ancient cloistered small town of 2,000 monastics. The Christian equivalent of Tibet 70 old ages ago. It is called the Christian Tibet. Powerful practitoners of soundless supplication and fantastic narratives of mending! I was blown off by this book 's deepness and fairness! -Amos Smith ( writer of Mending The Divide: Recovering Christianity 's Mystic Roots ) It is non frequently that I read a book where every chapter inspired me and captivated my ideas for the remainder of the twenty-four hours. A brief outline: the writer, Kyriacos Markides, is a professor of sociology at the University of Maine and originally hails from Cyprus. Through his surveies, he began to research ancient mysticism, despite being himself an agnostic. His research lead him to a cloistered community on Mount Athos in Greece and a meeting with a immature monastic named Father Maximos. This Athonite community saw themselves as refinishers of Greek Orthodox traditions and his friendly relationship with Father Maximos finally led him to pass several summers questioning the monastic at another cloistered community back on the island of Cyprus. The book non merely explores the beliefs and patterns of these Greek Orthodox cloistered communities, but besides chronicles Markides’s ain religious journey back to his Orthodox roots. Interesting and prosecuting work researching the gifts of Greek Orthodox mysticism. I disagree with many of Marakides ' decisions about Western Christianity as a whole - yes, in portion, to some of them - but it is to be read for the Grecian Orthodox patterns, beliefs, and traditions. I wish this was the first book about Orthodoxy I had read. It makes it so much more accessible. This book flows truly good and is non disjointed spots of letters and preachments like most Orthodox books. The writer is a great narrative Teller, including tonss of colour from his journeys and conversation. It reads like fiction. Loved this book. But so once more I love Eastern Christian memoirs and existent life experiences of religious find. I truly liked this book, the content left me with a sort of rousing. This book decidedly gives a individual a batch to believe about. I particularly liked reading about the 5 phases in the development of logismos ( ideas ) , Assault, interaction, consent, imprisonment, and passion or compulsion. Chapter 9, referred to as Invisible Intruders is where this is discussed. I found the comparative analyses of Markides to be commonplace and otiose and the observations and spiritualty of Father Maximos ( aka the current Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol, Cyprus ) to be godly and carry throughing. This book played a large function in my catechism to Orthodox Christianity, both in my rejection of my former namby-pamby position that all spiritualty is the same and in the delicious debut to the truth and unbelievable deepness and beauty that resides in the Orthodox church. I one time read person reappraisal this book stating that they were left with the feeling of desiring to travel back and take notes on what Fr Maximos had to state, I had that really same feeling. One to re-read and extremely recommended to anyone involvement in spiritualty, what you will happen is so much more... Excellent survey There are three ways of knowing, harmonizing to Kyriacos Markides: scientific, logical, and mystical. He argues that western society has concentrated on both logical and scientific in the past, but in recent history has disallowed the value of logical cognition in favour of scientific merely. Markides introduces the reader to the construct that there is great value in mystical cognition. He discusses several illustrations that show the secular wisdom of monastics who have removed themselves from the universe and have dedicated their lives to mystical supplication. He introduces the reader to Greek Orthodox monasteries in the mountains of Cyprus. Kyriacos Markides presents a thorough and perforating position into the cloistered life of the Eastern Orthodox church and covers many relevant issues including ceaseless supplication, unwellnesss of the bosom, true cognition of God, the significance of icons, and the Orthodox apprehension of Hell. Markides ' authorship is heavy and frequently awkward, but the content is the of import portion of this book and non the art of authorship, and it serves its intent. A definite must-read for anyone sing the Eastern Orthodox religion. The rubric, The Mountain of Silence, by Kyriacos C. Markides is an disposed description of where the writer wants to take us. And it does necessitate to be considered ‘a hunt for Orthodox Spirituality’ as his work is sub-titled because Markides went to Cyprus in hunt of replies to his personal inquiries about the Orthodox religion. If you can humbly resignation to being along for an intimate introductory circuit, you will bask this pilgrim's journey to/through Orthodoxy. If you’re looking for a judicious theological class, nevertheless, you will be disappointed by this book. The most spiritually enlightening and enlightening book I have of all time read. I can non depict rightly in words how much this book has contributed to my life and my cognition of God. Every Christian should read this. Beautiful. Simply beautiful. An atheist sociologist interviews an Athonite monastic on typical and controversial facets of Orthodox spiritualty. A really interesting debut to the religion if you 're non tied to the systematic attack, though I 'd desire to follow my survey with something more of that vena. I enjoyed the honestness of the writer. Largely a compelling scrutiny of the East/West split over ways of cognizing. My inquiry, can a mystical cognition of God be learned by Westerners? Possibly merely if it becomes respected in our schooling. An first-class primer on the Eastern Orthodox attack to cognize God. It has some spreads and inaccuracies, but it is valuable for Orthodox Christians to prove their old pious phrases. Father Maximos ' instructions will stand up to much inquiring. An absolute must read for all seeking to understand the Orthodox Faith An inside expression at what religion and spiritualty mean to the Orthodox Christian. Hands down one of the BEST books I 've of all time read. Kind of slow at first but after chapter 5 I could n't set it down. Perfect for anyone interested in Orthodox asceticism and life Does a great occupation at demoing how Christianity has a deep mystical/experiential tradition, which is at the nucleus of the Orthodox Church, and has been preserved since its beginning, about 2000 old ages ago. He does good at leting the words of Fr. Maximos to talk clearly many truths from Orthodoxy, but besides does n't waver to add some of his ideas, which frequently might be the ideas of a disbelieving reader. You are able to acquire a good expression at cloistered life in the Orthodox tradition, and besides read treatments on broad assortment of other subjects related to Christianity, faith, and spiritualty. makes me desire to see Greece. Conveys the bosom of Christianity. An edifying read! ! This is about the 4th clip I 've read this book. It is full of the wisdom of Father Maximos, who was sent from Mount Athos in Greece, to Cyprus. Kyriacos C Markides spent much clip with Father Maximos and learned much about Orthodox Christianity from him. So does the reader and I have ever found it reviewing.

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